The Future of Warfare: National Positions on the Governance of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems

Lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), such as drones and autonomous missile systems, are no longer a theoretical concern. Indeed, they are finding their way onto the battlefield. Amid growing international concern, States have articulated a range of positions on how LAWS should be governed, ranging from relying on existing international law (traditionalists), to a legal ban on LAWS (prohibitionists), to a new treaty that would ban certain uses and regulate others to “clarify and strengthen existing law” (dualists). In this post, we analyze a flurry of recent international diplomatic efforts to address LAWS, focusing on these three main positions adopted by various States and identifying potential next steps.